Carrier-distributing apparatus



l5, 1925 -4 sheets-sheet. 1

J.G.MACLAREN CARRIER DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Sept.

Jan. 4, 1927.

Jan..4,1927;

J.G.MACLAREN CARRIER DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 55, 1925 OOOO OOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOOC N OOOO OOOOO OOOO OOOO OOOO OOOOO OOOO OOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOOOOOOO -GOG-OOOO'OOOO OOOOOO OOOO J. G. MACLAREN CARRIER DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Jan. 4, 1927. 1,613,565

Filed Sept- 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 4,1927. 1,613,565

J. G. MACLAREN CARRIER DISTRIBUT ING APPARATUS Filed. 5610i- 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 which contains a suiiicient number of tubes normally to deliver the desired number oi" carriers to a single operator. The number of tubes in the various groups may diter in accordance with the activity of the respective outlying stations which are served by these tubes.

Each, ot the tubes ot eachV of the several rows is provided with a separator device 6 ot any suitable type adapted to separate the carriers into classes in accordance with some external Vclnuracteristic ot' the carriers. rllhese separators are provided with outlets 7 through which the charge carriers are dclivered, and with other outlets 8 for the delivery ot the cash carriers.

A horizontal conveyor belt il is arranged in the space between the separator terminals ot the tubes ot the rows l and 2 and a similar conveyor belt is disposed between the delivery terminals ot' the tubes ot the rows 3 and il. The belt 9 receives all the charge -arriers 'from the tubes of rows l and 2 and moves them longitudinally oit' the desk and deposits them in an incl-ined chute l0. A similar chute lO receives the charge carriers delivered through the tubes 3 and Ll and the two chutes l() deposit their charge carriers upon a charge authorizeris desk il. Y

The terminals 8, from which cash carriers arriving through the tubes l and 2 are de-` livered, deposit their carriersin an inclined chute comprising the upper downwardly and rearwardly inclined floor member l2 and the lower forwardly and downwardly inclined floor 12a. The floors l2 and 12 extend along the entire series ot delivery terminals 8 so that all of the carriers delivered by these terminals -tall upon the upper licor l2 of the chute and after sliding down the latter drop onto the lower floor 12a and continue their downward movement.

Preferably a cover 13 is spaced vertically above the `floor member' l2 ot' the chute so as to provide a closed channel or passage for the carriers. Likewise a cover ll is space-d above the bottom floor member l2a providinga closed passage -for the carriers as they slide down the lower part ot' the chute. As the carrier inovesdown the tloor 12 and arrives at the lower edge l5 of the latter it tall-s directly down onto the 'ioor 12a and slides down the latter until it reaches the lower edge 16 of the chute when it drops down into a trough ll" at the front part of the desk 1S. Carri-er stations ll), corresponding to 'the groups 5 of tubes, are arranged at the front ot the desk in convenient position so that operators seated at these stations may pick up carriers from the trough 17 and perform the necessary transactions. After performing the desired transactions the operator places the carrier in a receiving box 20 in the front edge of the desk from which the carrier drops into a longitudinally extendingtube 2l. rl'his tube 2l communicates at one end ot the desk with a transfer tube 22 which delivers the carriers through a terminal 23 to a despatch desk 24. This desk is provided with a bank of despatch terminals 23'LL leading to the various outlying stations and through which the carriers are returned to the sending point. The authorizers station ll is also furnished with receiving boxes 25 communieating with a tube 26 which delivers through one of the terminals 23 to the despatch desk 24.

rllhe low-er portion of the inclined delivery chut-e is provided at its opposite ends with inclined deilectors 27 and 28 respectively, which are adapted to intercept carriers sliding down the lower tloor 12a ot the chute and to divert them inwardly toward the operators stations nearest to the adjacent end of the desk.

Additional deflectors 30 and 31 are arranged intermediate ot the ends ot the Chute. lPreterably the deiiectors 8O and 3l are connected to form a compound delector ot inverted V-shape having its apex 29 directed upwardly. These compound deflectors are preferably movable longitudinally ot the desk and in order to hold them in adjusted position the cover member lil of the lower part of the chute may be provided with a row of openings 32 for the reception of retaining pins 33 adapted to project into suitable openings in the upper edges of the detlector members 30 and 3l. Preferably the deectors are of a vertical thickness substantially equal to the distance between ythe cover plate lll and the floor 12a, and while in most cases the detlectors 27 and 28 will be stationary it is contemplated that they may be movable as well as the detlectors 30 and 3l.

llvlhile in l I have shown the deflectcfrs as associated only with the lower part of the inclined chute I contemplate the provision el dci'lectors in the upper part ot the. chute or in both parts as may be desired, the latter arrangement being indicated in Fig. 6 wherein. a V-shaped detlector 50 is shown as supported by the upper floor member l2 ot the chute, and a second detlcctor 5l is shown in the lower part ot the chute.

In lthe operation oi the device the cash carriers deposited in the upper part ot the. chute slide down the floor l2 and then drop onto the floor l2a along which they tend to move in substantially straight lines toward the lower edge 16 ot the latter. It the dellectors 27 and 28, 30-31 were not provi-ded. a carrier arriving through each group 5 of tubes would move in a substantially vertical plane directly from its point or discha 0e to the trough 17 and would be deposited in trent of the corresponding operator. A s above described, due to increased activity lll) 'Cil

of certain outlying stations, certain groups ottubesV may deliver more than the normal number oi' carriers. InY siichcase the inevable detiectors may be shitted either to the right or lett so as tof intercept Carriers through more or less of the4 tubes oi a given group and to deflect such carriers to sta tions at the right or vlett ot the station at ivhich they would normally arrive; In eX- treme cases the detlectors may beso placed as. to throiv all carriers trom a' givengroup of tubes out ot their normal path.

Since ordinarily aplurality ot the compound `V-shaped deiectors will be provided, it is possible by grouping these de'tlectors to produce almost any desired distribution of theV arriving carriers and the number ott possible variations may obviously be increased by providing similar movable4 da iiectors in the upper part otthe inclined chute. l i

Wlhile prefer to employ bodily movable deliectors, l contemplate the' provision oi pivotally supported detlectors adapted to swing to one' side' or the other or to remain in a neutral position substantially parallell to the normal movement ot the carriers along the chut-e; rhis arrangement is illustrated in Fig; 7 whereinl the detlector is mounted upon' a pivot 54 which may be provided With a handle tor moving the detlector to the' right or lett.

l/Vliile lf have shown tlie dei'le'ctor devices as arranged in the lower part ot' a= chute otV zig-zag construction it is obvious that'vsiin-A ilar deliectors may be arranged in a chut-eI having but a single downwardly extfnding run'.

I claim:

l. Apparatus o'f the class described' comprising a group ot'delivery terminals, and ai normally stationary detlector disposed in the path ot carriers discharged 'tronithe terminals ot said group, said de'tlector being bodily adjustableat willito direct all. carriersY discharged from the terminals ot saidvv group either to the right or to the lett ol said' group; 4

2. irpparatus ot the class described coin'- prising' a plurality ot delivery terminals, air inclined chute. positioned to receive carriers delivered by said terminals, and a de'tl'ector engageable with carriers moving down thef chute, said deliector being movable relativelylo the chute to permit segregation oit carriers 'troni selected groups otisaid terminals.

3. Apparatus oi the class described coin'- prisinga plurality ot rows of delivery ter`- minals` an inclined support arranged to re ceive carriers delivered b v the terminals" ot" both rows, a second inclined support receivingcarriers delivered trom the lower edge otl the rst support, and a deiiector Ytor diverting` carriers moving dovvnVv one'ot said sup; ports from their normal paths ot movement.

a support' arranged'l to' receive' carriers'- de-4 livered by' both' terminals, said'support slop`-v ing? downwardly toward the' rear ot the desk, and' means for' conducting` carriers dis= charged trom the lower edge of saidV support to a point adjacent tothe front o-t the desk.

Apparatus ot the class' described coinpri's'ing a desk, an pair ot deliveryterminals arranged above the desk, one terminal' being nearer to the back ot tli'e desk than the other, a support arranged to receive' carriers de'- li-vered by both' terminals, said supportjslop# ing'dou'inivardly toward the rear ot' the desk, and' asecond inclined support sloping toward the front ot the desk and-arranged to receive carriers discharged from' the lower edge' ot th-e first support and to deliver them near to the front of the desk.

6, Apparatus ot they class described com-` prising a desk, a pair of delivery terminals arranged above the desk, one terminal being nearerto thebaekot'the desk than the other, a support arranged tol receive carriers delivered3 by both terminals, said supportslopiingj-doivnivardlytoivard therear of the desir, a second support arranged to receive carriers dischargedtrom the' lower edge of the lirst support, said second support 'sloping d'ovvnivardly towardl the front` of the desk, and a detlector device,l adjustable-bodily transversely' of the Width ot said' second sup- Agort tol divertV carriers moving dovvir the latter from their normal path ot' movement.

7, Apparatus of' th'e class described' comprising desk, a pair of delivery terminals arrangedl abovethe desk, one terminal being nearer to the back oit the desk than theother, a support arranged to receive carriers delivered byl both terminals, said support slopingfdownvvar'dly toward the rear ofthe desk, a second support" arranged to receive carriersfdischarged from the lower edge ot the `iirst s upport,sai'd second support sloping downwardly' toward the iront otthe desk,

and a detl'ector ot inverted Vsshape resting upon andadjustable'transversely ot saidsecond support optionally to divert carriers moving` dowirthe latter either to the right or to ther lett ot their normal paths oi movement.

8; Apparatus ol the class described con1- prising ai plurality ot delivery terminals, a fixed support common' to the several'terininals` onto which carriers are delivered by the several terminals and along which the carriers continue to lmove atter deliver-y, and an adjustable detlector device engageable with carriers moving alongsaid support to divertpthein troni theiiI normal paths ot movement'.

9.v Apparatus ot the class'dei-:eribed conithe class described come pair' off delivery teririinals the desk, one' terminal' being. nearer tothe back ot the desk than the other,

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prising a plurality of delivery terminals, an inclined fixed support arranged to receive carriers discharged from the several terminals and down which the carriers slide, and a deiector for diverting carriers sliding down said support from their normal paths, said delector being adjustable to intercept carriers from a greater or lesser number of terminals.

10. Apparatus of the class described coinprising a plurality of delivery terminals, an inclined iixed support arranged to receive carriers discharged fromthe several terminals and down which the carriers slide, a deector at each end of said support, said deiiectors inclining downwardly and inwardly toward the center oi the support, and a delector or' inverted V-shape intermediate said first detlectors.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality oi' delivery terminals, an inclined fixed support arranged to receive carriers discharged from the several terminals and down which the carriers slide, a ixed detiecting element resting upon the support adjacent to each end ot' the latter, said fixed delectors inclining inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the support, and a detlector intermediate said iixed detlectors, said intermediate detlector being adjustable to intercept carriers from optionally different numbers ot said delivery terminals and thereby to deflect such carriers Jfrom their normal paths.

l2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of delivery terminals, an inclined ixed support arranged to receive carriers discharged from the several terminals and down which the carriers slide, a fixed deflecting element resting upon the support adjacent to each end of the latter, said tired detlectors inclining inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the support, and a detlector of inverted V-shape intermediate the lixed detlector, said intermediate detlector being bodily adjustable longitudinally or' the support.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising a j alurality of delivery terminals disposed in a row, an inclined support disposed below said terminals, the carriers discharged 'from the several terminals tending to move in substantially rectilinear paths down said support, and a deflecting element inclined relatively to the normal paths of said carriers and engageable with said carriers to divert them from their normal paths, said deflector being bodily movable transversely of said paths.

14. Apparatus of the class described cornprising spaced parallel rows or" pneumatic transmission tubes, a carrier separator connected to each tube for dividing the carriers into two classes, a belt conveyor disposed to receive carriers of one class delivered by the separators of both rows of-tubes, a desk below the separators, a chute arranged to receive carriers oi the other class from the separators correspending` to both rows of tubes and to deliver said carriers to the desk, and adjustable deilector means associated with the chute for directing carriers moving down the chute toward one or the other end ot the desk.

l5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a row of pneumatic despatch delivery terminals a desk disposed below said terminals, a wide covered chute extending he entire length of said row or" terminals and adapted to receive carriers delivered by all or said terminals and to conduct them to the desk, and bodily movable de'flectors within the chute adapted to divert carriers 'irom their normal paths and thereby to collect carriers from groups of terminals of desired size.

i6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of rows of delivery terminals, a desk disposed beneath said terminals, a horizontally elongate chute arranged to receive carriers from all of said terminals and to conduct them to the desk, and means ior separating` carriers moving down the chute into a plurality oi groups.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of pneumatic despatch terminals, a desk disposed below said terminals, an inclined chute arranged to receive carriers from said terminals and to deliver them at the desk, and adjustable deflectors arranged within the chute for dividing the moving carriers into groups.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pneumatic transmission tube, a separator device connected to the tube for separating carriers into two classes, a belt conveyor for receiving one class of carriers, an inclined chute for receiving carriers of the other class, and a deilector mounted upon said chute intermediate its upper and lower ends to divert carriers from their normal paths along the chute.

19. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ot pneumatic despatch terminals disposed in a row, a wide chute arranged to receive carriers delivered by all of said terminals, a desk disposed below the terminals, spaced operators7 stations at the side of the desk, and a deilector device engageable with carriers sliding' down the chute, said detiector being adjustable to detern'iine from what delivery terminals carriers shall be delivered to a selected station.

9.0. Apparatus o't the class described comprising two groups oi parallel rows or" pneumatic transmission tubes, a desk extending beneath each group, a separator connected to each tube for separating cash carriers and charge carriers, a belt conveyor disposed above each desk and arranged to relili) lil ceive charge carriers from the correspond ing group of tubes, an authorizers desk, and a chute arranged to receive charge carriers troni both belts and to deliver thein to said authorizers desk.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprising two groups of parallel rows of pneumatic transmission tubes, a desk extending beneath each group, a separator connected to each tube for separating cash carriers and charge carriers, a belt conveyor disposed above each desk and arranged to receive charge carriers from the corresponoling group ot tubes, a Wide chute extending along beneath each group of tubes and arranged to receive cash carriers delivered by the tubes ot' said group and to transfer theni t-o the corresponding desk, deflector means associated with each chute for segregating the carriers into groups, said deflector means being adjustable to vary the size ot' said groups, an authorizers desk, and chutes arranged to receive charge carriers from each belt and to deliver them to said authorizers desk. i

Signed by ine at Syracuse, New York, this seventeenth day of August, 1925.

JAMES G. MAGLAREN. 

